Labour leadership: 'Back anyone but Corbyn', Kendall urges
Labour leadership: 'Don't back Corbyn', say Kendall and Cooper
(about 2 hours later)
Liz Kendall has urged her supporters to back anyone other than Jeremy Corbyn in the Labour leadership contest.
Labour leadership hopefuls Liz Kendall and Yvette Cooper have said their supporters should back anyone other than Jeremy Corbyn in the contest.
She told the BBC Labour risked sending a "resignation letter to the British people as a serious party of government" by electing Mr Corbyn.
Ms Kendall told the BBC Labour risked sending a "resignation letter to the British people as a serious party of government" by electing Mr Corbyn.
She told The Independent voters should mark Andy Burnham or Yvette Cooper as second and third preferences, and avoid giving votes to the frontrunner.
Separately, Ms Cooper warned there was a "serious risk the party will split" the left-winger becomes its leader.
It comes as Labour begins sending out the first ballot papers to voters.
It comes as Labour begins sending out the first ballot papers to voters.
More than 600,000 people are qualified to vote in the four-way contest, the result of which will be declared on 12 September.
Labour leadership contest in-depth
The result of the contest will be announced at a special conference on 12 September. Here is a look at what the candidates would do if they won power:
More than 600,000 people have signed up to vote in the four-way contest but Labour has said applications are still being verified.
Mr Corbyn is due to unveil a 10-point policy plan while in Glasgow later.
Mr Corbyn is due to unveil a 10-point policy plan while in Glasgow later.
Ms Kendall, who is polling in last place in the contest, admitted she had "a hell of a long way to go" to convince enough people to back her.
The surprise popularity of the left-wing Islington North MP, who is promising "a new kind of politics", has sparked a row about the future direction of the Labour party.
She called for a voting pact with Ms Cooper and Mr Burnham, saying: "I have set out very clearly where I differ with all the candidates but our differences with Jeremy's kind of politics are far greater."
Senior Labour figures, including former Prime Minister Tony Blair, have warned that the party will be unelectable if it moves to the left.
'Serious party'
'Serious party'
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme Ms Kendall said: "I can't pretend to be agnostic about Jeremy Corbyn leading our party because I think millions of people are desperate and depend on a serious Labour Party that can win elections.
In an interview with The Independent, Ms Kendall called for voters to mark Ms Cooper or Mr Burnham as second and third preferences, and avoid giving votes to the frontrunner.
"This is the system we've got. It is an alternative vote system and I want to urge party members to use all of their different preferences.
"I have set out very clearly where I differ with all the candidates but our differences with Jeremy's kind of politics are far greater," said Ms Kendall.
And speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme she said she "can't pretend to be agnostic" about a victory for Mr Corbyn, saying of the voting process: "It is an alternative vote system and I want to urge party members to use all of their different preferences.
"I will be using my second and third preferences and I would urge others to do the same because I don't want to see our party go back to the politics of the '80s, just being a party of protest."
"I will be using my second and third preferences and I would urge others to do the same because I don't want to see our party go back to the politics of the '80s, just being a party of protest."
Ms Kendall also said she did not see the party splitting, as it had done in the 1980s when Labour members formed the Social Democratic Party, saying she believed people would make the case for a "modern, open, optimistic Labour party".
The Leicester West MP also said she did not see the party splitting, as it did in the 1980s when Labour members formed the Social Democratic Party.
She is heading on a 72-hour tour around Britain to try to boost her campaign.
However, Ms Cooper told BBC 2's Newsnight: "I think there is a serious risk that the party will split, will polarise and I cannot bear to see that happen because there is too much at stake."
'Values and ideas'
Asked in an interview with grassroots Labour website Labourlist whether voters should use their votes to try to prevent Mr Corbyn winning, she said: "I think people should use all of their preferences.
Meanwhile Mr Corbyn has promised a "new kind of politics" if he wins the contest.
"And I think the focus has to be how do we make sure we can win that election, and that's the most important thing - and I don't think Jeremy can do that."
'New politics'
Mr Corbyn - who has warned against "personal abuse" in the campaign, saying he wants to focus on policy - has promised a "new kind of politics" if he wins the contest.
His policy programme includes a commitment to "growth not austerity", nationalising the railways and energy sector, and a plan for nuclear disarmament.
His policy programme includes a commitment to "growth not austerity", nationalising the railways and energy sector, and a plan for nuclear disarmament.
"I have chosen Scotland to set out the values and policies I'm standing to deliver, on the day the ballot papers are sent out, because Scotland is one of several examples of how Labour has become disconnected," he said.
In an essay for the Fabian Society he also suggested Labour's new increased following should be more involved in the party and proposed a review of membership fees to make the party more "inclusive".
"This plan of the values and ideas I'm standing to deliver are intended to speak to all parts of Britain, not setting one against another as the Tories have done."
Mr Burnham told the BBC Mr Corbyn's policies "lack credibility".
"Combined, they are a new kind of politics: a fairer, kinder Britain based on innovation, decent jobs and decent public services."
He added: "It's not possible to promise free university education, re-nationalising the utilities, without that coming at a great cost and if you can't explain how that is going to be paid for then I don't think we'll win back the trust of voters on the economy."
Newspaper backing
Lance price, former director of communications for Labour, told the BBC the leadership contest had been an "unedifying mess" and had "done nothing to reengage the labour party with those millions of people who deserted it".
Yvette Cooper used a speech on Thursday to criticise Mr Corbyn, accusing him of proposing "old solutions to old problems" and presenting herself as the "real radical".
The Guardian newspaper has endorsed Ms Cooper for the leadership while the Daily Mirror has given its backing to Andy Burnham, although the paper urged him to "find a role" in his team for Mr Corbyn, who it says has "lit up the election campaign".
Ms Cooper told BBC Newsnight there was a serious risk that the party would split if Mr Corbyn won.
She said: "I don't want to see that happen, I can't bear to see that happen because I think there is too much at stake and when you've got families who depend on Labour to stop their tax credits being cut, to say goodbye to power and to the possibility of winning the next election is wrong."
Asked if she would sit in a Jeremy Corbyn shadow cabinet, Ms Cooper said she would not be able to argue for policies such as the return of the Labour Party's Clause IV.
She said she feared Labour could be out of power for a generation, but would not walk away from the party.
Lance price, former director of communications for Labour, said the leadership contest had been an "unedifying mess" and had "done nothing to reengage the labour party with those millions of people who deserted it".
He added that whoever won contest would end up without the support of a "bulk of the party".
The Guardian newspaper has endorsed Ms Cooper for the leadership.
In an editorial, it said Mr Corbyn had "breathed extraordinary life" into the leadership campaign, while his three rivals came across as "a triple-headed embodiment of the well-dressed, smooth-talking Westminster class".
But the paper said he would not win the votes necessary to clinch a general election - and instead Ms Cooper would be best placed to take on David Cameron, and perform the "formidably difficult task" of uniting the party.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror has endorsed Andy Burnham, for the leadership.
But the paper urged him to "find a role" in his team for Mr Corbyn, who it says has "lit up the election campaign".
Mr Burnham, Mr Corbyn's closest challenger according to opinion polls, said it was unhelpful to "second guess" and make "dire predictions" about the outcome of the vote.
He said: "I think people are well aware of the issues at stake and I think the time has come to trust the members of our party and the supporters of our party to make the right decision about its future."
Labour leadership contest in-depth
A look at what each of the candidates would do if they won power:
Left-winger Mr Corbyn began the race as a rank outsider but has shot to the top of the opinion polls on the back of a social media campaign and backing from the two biggest unions.
Meanwhile, Labour Party officials have rejected calls to pause the contest over fears the process is being sabotaged by members of other parties.
The party will begin sending out ballot papers on Friday, with the first going to long-standing members who have already been verified.